The protagonist of the first Assassin's Creed game is Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.
Altaïr is a Syrian Assassin introduced as a highly skilled but overconfident member of the Brotherhood. After failing to follow the order of his mentor, Al Mualim, he is demoted and must complete a series of missions to restore his rank. His targets are influential figures in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade.
The game also features Desmond Miles, a modern-day bartender whose genetic memories are explored through the Animus. Desmond is the framing protagonist, but Altaïr is the playable historical character in the original game. Later entries focus on different Assassins, especially Ezio Auditore, whose story spans three major games.